Automatic valve



` (No Model.) 2 sheetssheet 1 J. GLAPP. AUTOMATIC VALVE. No. 425,751. Patented Apr. l5, 1890.

o A f A .A m @A (No Model.)

2. t e e h S ...w e e h s 2 P... .V1 .1L P P v HAC LH GA .m .JT U A No. 425,751. Patented Apr. 15, 1590.

lllll HUI ns co.. mormwnu., msmnowu, n. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

JOSEPH CLAPP, OF EVANSTON, ASSIGNOR TO THE CLAPP AUTOMATIC FIRE EXTINGUISHER COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.'

AUTOMATIC VALVE.

SPECIFICATION formingv part of Letters Patent No. 425,751, dated April 15, 1890.

Application filed July 29, 1889. Serial No. 319,021. (No model.)

T all whom, it may concern: a flexible diaphragm e, of rubber, leather, or Be it known that I, JOSEPH CLAPP, of Evansother suitable material, which is attached to ton, in the county of Cook and State of Illithe valve-stemA CZ between rings d2 (Z2, rigidly nois, have invented certain new and useful secured to said valve-stem, so as to cause Improvements in Automatic Valves, of which said diaphragm to move up and down there- 55 the following is a full, clear, and exact dewith and prevent leakage. This appliance scription, reference being had to the accompa dispenses with the use of packing around the nying drawings, forming part of this specivalve-stem. Bolted or otherwise rigidly atiication, in whichtached to the cap are upright posts f f, ar-

ro Figure 1 is a vertical sectional View of my ranged parallel to each other, to the top of 6o improved valve as it appears in its normal which is bolted a diaphragm-valve F, conposition in connection with the supply, dissisting of a hollow metallic shell formed of tributing, and air pipes of a fire-extinguishtwo parts f f2, between which is secured ay ing system. Fig. 2 is a sectional detail View flexible diaphragm f3, having a metal plate i 5 of a modified form of releasing mechanism. f4 attached to the upper side, from which is 65 Fig. 3 is an end view of said valve; and Fig. 4 upwardly extended a stud f5. A cross-bar g is a side vertical sectional view of said valve, is arranged to bear upon said stud, one end in which the parts are represented in an abof said cross-bar being looselyT attached to a normal position. link g', which is in turn attached to a lug g2, 2o Like letters of reference in the diiferent secured to the shell of the valve, while to the 7o figures indicate like parts. other is suspended a bar g3, which passes The object of my'invention is to provide an loosely through an opening in a rigid plate g4, automatic valve for normally closing the supwhich prevents any but an up-and-down moveply-pipe of a lire-extinguishing system, which ment of said bar. A weight h is attached to shall be simple in its construction and efthe lower end of the bar g3, for the purpose 7 5 fective in its operation. hereinafter stated.

To these ends my invention consists in the In suitable proximity to said automatic combination of elements more particularly valve I provide an air-pump J, Fig. l, which described and claimed. is connected with the main distributing-pipe 3o Referring to the drawings, A represents c by means of a pipe j', in which is interposed 8o the shell of my improved valve, which is proacheck-valve j to prevent abacktlow of water vided with induction and eduction openings when the latter is admitted to the distributsurrounded by pipes a a, which are screwing-pipes. Abranch pipe j? also connects the threaded, respectively, for the reception of pipej with the chambers of the valve F. VA

induction and eduction pipes B C, the former bifurcated bent lever K is inserted between 85 of which is represented as the supply and the the standards f f and is provided with lugs latter as the distributing pipe in a fire-exk 7a, which are pivoted at 7c 7.o to said standtinguishing system. Upon the top of the ards. Said lever is bent back substantially shell A is detachably secured a cap, preferat right angles to the parts 7c, as shown at 7a2,"

4o ably consisting of two parts a2 a3, the former and thence upwardly again in a single piece 9o of which is tapped into the shell, while the 7c3, to the top of which is preferably attached latter is bolted thereto, as shown. A plug c4 a weight h4. A link Z is loosely attached to is tapped into the part a3, into a bore in which said weight and is arranged to extend loosely is inserted a projecting valve-stem CZ, to which through a'slot g5, formed in the bar g3. A deis attached a valve D in operative proximity tent Z is adjusted to engage with a dog m, at'- 95 to a valve-seat d5. A small rod d', which tached to a cross-pin m', which is loosely pivforms a continuation of the valve-stem, is oted to the standards f f. A cross-bar 'a is passed loosely through a cross-bar, as shown, loosely secured in bores formed in the legs of and serves to guide the valve in its movement. the lever K and is provided with a set-screw 5o Between the parts a2 dB of the cap is secured n', which is adapted to bear upon the upper roo' end of the valve-stem d when said bent lever is in its normal position.

I prefer to provide a secondary bent lever 0, which is pivoted to the frame by means of a cross-bar o and is free to oscillate. One end of said lever is arranged beneath and normally in loose contact With a pin (13 in the upper end of the valve-stem, While the other is bent upwardly, as shown at o, in near proximity to the lever K.

The operation of said valve is as follows: The valve D is iirst placed upon its seat, the lever K raised to the position shown in Fig. 1, the bar Z inserted in the slot g5 of the suspended bar g3, andthe dog m placed in engagement with the detent l', when the air-pump J is operated, thereby compressing air into the distributing-pipes and the diaphragm F, the pressure being sufficient to hold the weight h normally raised. The screw n is then tightened sufliciently to prevent any leakage of the valve D. Upon the opening of an automatic sprinkler-head c in the distributingpipes, and the consequent escape of air the diaphragm in the valve F collapses, the Weight 71. falls, the bar l is lowered, and the dog m turns in Fig. 3. The set-screw'n. is at the same time tilted upon its axis n, thus disconnecting it from the valve-stem d. Simultaneously ,the lever K strikes against the part o of the lever O and unseats the valve D. This device insures the opening of the valve in the event that from any cause it should stick upon its seat so that the Water-pressure would be insucient to open it.

It is obvious that the mechanism for releasing the leverK may be modified from that shown in Fig. 1 Without departing from the essential features of my invention. In Fig. 2 I have shown such modification, in which the pipe ji is connected at the side, the weightsustaining bar being the valve-stem f5, which is carried downwardly directly through the valve-shell, taking the place of the bar g3, and a diaphragm p Aconnected therewith to prevent leakage. In such construction the bar Z may be pivoted to the standard f, the weight h may be placed upon one end thereof, and the dog m pivoted to the other.

Having thus described my invention, I claimy l. The combination, with the supply and distributing pipes of'an automatic iireextinguishing system, of a valve arranged to act against the flow of water in the supply-pipe, a protruding valve-stem, a bent lever pivoted ,to the frame-work of the valve-shell, a set screw in pivotal contact with the end of said valve-stem, a gravity-actuated tripping mech-` anism for releasing said bent lever, a diaphragmvalve in operative connection with said tripping .mechanism,fand meansfor introducing compressed air therein in common with said distributing-pipes, substantially as shown and described.

2. The combination, with the supply and distributing pipes of a `fire-extinguishing system, of the-valve D, inclosed within a suitable shell, stem cl, bent lever K, set-screw n', secured within a revoluble cross-bar, weight k4, toothed link Z, dog m, Weighted bar g3, diaphragm f3, in operative connection with the bar g, and a source of compressed air for normallyraising said diaphragm and filling the distributing-pipes, substantially as shown and described.

3. `The combination, with a valve and valvestem, of a weighted oscillatory lever` for normally holding the valve upon its seat and a supplemental lever pivoted to the frame and having one end connected with said valve- JOSEPH CLAPP.

Witnesses:

D. H. FLETCHER, J. HALPENNY. 

